Tag Archives: news

Recharge in Your Community: EM Wellness Week

Posted on by
Many people find fulfillment in having a sense of connection to their community, however that community is defined. Feeling frustrated and like you’re not making the impact you had hoped at work? Why not try volunteering? You could use your skills, and volunteer at a charity event or run. Or, do something completely new and act as a mentor through Big Brothers or Big Sisters. Other ideas can be found here: http://govolunteer.ca/.
Interested in being more involved in the community itself? Find out how to get involved in your local city council: http://vancouver.ca/your-government/citizen-involvement.aspx. Or, what about just spending some time to get to know your community? Find a friend or a partner and spend a day being a tourist. Walk the Seawall. Check out the Vancouver Aquarium after hours. Check out a local listing for the many events you can enjoy: http://www.vancitybuzz.com/vancouver-events/, http://www.miss604.com/.

Recharge Mentally: EM Wellness Week

Posted on by

One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to focus on something unrelated. Take some time away from work to use your brain and skills on something new. Engaging in a hobby can give you an opportunity to stop multi-tasking and focus solely at the task at hand. Plus, maybe you’ll find a new passion or meet some new friends.

Vancouver has innumerable opportunities to unleash your creativity. Look up your local community centre. There’s everything from drawing to photography to computers to singing to violin.

How about trying a drop-in improv class? Many places in Vancouver offer weekend photography workshops. Or grab some friends and go to Raw Canvas. You can share some dinner while unleashing your inner Da Vinci on the provided canvases. Or, if you’re more a lover of viewing art, check out the Vancouver Art Gallery. There are discounts Tuesday nights. How about hosting a knitting night?
Gaining a new skill can improve your confidence and positively impact other areas of your life. Concentrating on a hobby can also help to release stress, which can increase your happiness and lead to better productivity at work and at home.

Recharge Physically: EM Wellness Week

Posted on by
The best way to make your physical health a priority is to make it a priority. Aim to make a small change and schedule in the time. For instance, commit to going to a spin class or going for a swim once a week. Commit with a co-worker or friend.
Or even better, join the VGH Sun Run team! Pick a goal, and find some co-workers to run with. Registration is discounted until February 4th.
Did you know there’s a VGH gym? For only $25-30 a month, you can use their facilities fully stocked with weight training equipment, free weights, cardio equipment, stretching areas, and even a heavy bag. There are also daily classes. Find out more here: VGH Health and Wellness Centre. You can e-mail them for a tour.
What about committing to cycling to work? Join the VGH cycling centre. There are locked facilities for bike storage, lockers, and showers. They also hold social rides and free seminars and classes on cycling and bike maintenance.
If you’re not ready to make a committment, why not grab a friend and try something new? The Goh Ballet and the Harbour Dance Centre have drop in classes available. Almost all of the spinning studios will offer their first class free. Check out Extreme Air, the trampoline park.
If you’re not sure what’s right for you, consider classpass. For a monthly fee, you can take classes at a variety gyms, yoga studios, crossfit studios, spinning centres and many others.
And one of the best ways to recharge physically? Get outside! All of the local mountains offer snowshoeing. Cypress offers cross-country skiing. Go skating at Robson Square or up at Grouse mountain.
Remember, something is better than nothing, and the smallest effort can make a huge difference to your well being and mood. So grab a friend and go for a walk or make a plan!

New ACLS Guidelines Released

Posted on by

On October 15th, the 2015 Update on ACLS was released. Every 5 years ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation) reviews the evidence behind basic and advanced cardiac life support principles and the guidelines are updated. These include algorithms for BCLS, ACLS, and management of MI and stroke.

The full update can be found in the November 3rd edition of Circulation, but the group at BoringEM have put together an infographic summarizing the changes.

2015-AHA-Guideline-Update-Infographics-Complete-Set

2015-AHA-Guideline-Update-Infographics-Complete-Set

New communication tool can improve patient safety for patients taking Chinese herbs

Posted on by

Our own Dr. Kendall Ho supervised a project which has just been written up in the BC Medical Journal and the Vancouver Sun. Students developed a communication tool that patients or physicians can use to reduce the potential for drug interactions with traditional Chinese herbs and medications.

The BCMJ article can be see here:

http://www.bcmj.org/special-feature/communication-tool-describe-use-traditional-herbal-chinese-medicine-western-medicine

And the full story can be read here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/chinese+herbs+mixed+with+medications+hazardous/11438616/story.html

The communication tool can be seen here:

Chinese Medications